The SLS AMG Gullwing is going all electric, but that doesn't mean it will sacrifice performance. (Source: Mercedes-Benz via AutoBlog)

Gullwing electric is looking hot

For now, Tesla may have the electric
sports car market cornered, but that may soon change. First
there's the upcoming Fisker
Karma that will soon be crashing the party. And perhaps
more exciting is the electrified version of the SLS
AMG Gullwing, which Mercedes-Benz has announced plans to launch
in 2013.

German engineering at its finest, the 2010 SLS AMG
Gullwing model was one of the most popular sports cars of the year,
garnering the "Golden Steering Wheel 2009" award. Its
upward swinging doors harkened back to the classic 1955
Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing and it offers blistering performance
with a top speed of 196 mph and 0-to-60 mph acceleration time of 3.8
seconds.

The electric version is shaping up to be every bit as
hot, yielding little in the way of performance. Featuring
similar stylings to the conventional model, the electric version is
just beginning testing now, in preparation for the 2013 launch
according
to AutoCar.

Mercedes-Benz is targeting a flat 4
second 0-to-60 mph split and a range of 110 miles. To
accomplish that, the car is equipped with four individual electric
motors -- one on each wheel -- that offer a combined 525 horsepower
and 649 pound-feet of torque. Those motors are fed by three
lithium-ion packs.

Tweaking the performance of the beast will
be a good challenge for Mercedes-Benz engineers. The three
lithium-ion packs bump up the weight of the vehicle by 500 lbs. from
the gasoline version bringing total weight to 4,100 pounds.

AMG
head Volker Mornhinweg says that while the electric AMG will be a bit
chunky, it will still be fun to ride. He describes,
"Effectively being four-wheel-drive does alter its character,
but our torque vectoring systems give us opportunities to make it as
good. It's important to get the emotional level of an EV right and we
have some solutions."

The price of the supercar has not
yet been announced. Given that the 2010 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG
Gullwing retails for around $270,000 and electric cars typically cost
more than gasoline cars, the price could be quite
astronomical, though.

One thing is for sure -- this one could
end up on more than one DailyTech editors' Christmas
list... though, sadly, we doubt anyone will buy it for us.

"Young lady, in this house we obey the laws of thermodynamics!" -- Homer Simpson